Tap Rooms

[Blackthorn]

What's the consensus on tap rooms that have very limited opening, eg; a few hours on a Friday & Saturday.

Should they be added or not?

[Rex_Rattus]

I would say yes. Otherwise "we" would have to agree some sort of opening time limit -e.g. Sat/Sun not enough to justify inclusion but Fri/Sat/Sun is enough? Then you might have one open noon to 11.00 on Sat & Sun for 22 hours total, compared with others opening more days but for total of less hours. Too difficult I reckon - even if only open for limited hours (which many taprooms are) still useful to have them listed.

[ETA]

I agree with Rex. Better to add and check opening times before visiting than miss out on a decent pint.

[sheffield hatter]

I would say yes - even if only open for limited hours (which many taprooms are) still useful to have them listed.

I'm inclined to agree. Though I can't see myself making much of an effort to get to these sorts of places, I acknowledge that the information on Pubs Galore will be useful to some people, so we should provide it.

[Delboy20]

A big yes from me. They are the sort of places that you wouldn't even know about as they tend to be in odd places like trading estates! They don't get much walk in trade so it has to be good to help them if we can.
I agree that it is best to check the opening times. At least you are pretty sure to get a decent pint!

[Tris39]

Yes to all.

I think that if they are omitted, someone could miss out on a real find. Even if opening times are restricted, at least the onus should be on the visitor to check in advance.

[Mobyduck]

Absoloutely yes. there are currently many "normal" pubs with strange hours as well.

[Blackthorn]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. Expect to see a few Bristol ones added soon in that case.

It's a shame I didn't take some notes when I did the https://eastbristolbrewerytrail.com/ a couple of years ago. I guess I'll just have to revisit them all.

[Tris39]

Absoloutely yes. there are currently many "normal" pubs with strange hours as well.

Strange, in that they don't stick to the hours advertised on their websites.:moremad:

[Mobyduck]

Strange, in that they don't stick to the hours advertised on their websites.:moremad:

Keeps us on our toes.

[Gann]

As I regularly add tap rooms I’m therefore inclined to say yes. I do try to put the opening times as known in the reviews but I agree these are much more likely to change that for regular pubs.

[rpadam]

As I regularly add tap rooms I’m therefore inclined to say yes. I do try to put the opening times as known in the reviews but I agree these are much more likely to change that for regular pubs.
Agreed, and agreed (but at least taprooms - generally being run by younger, tech-savvy types - are much better than many pubs about keeping their websites and social media channels up to date).

[Tris39]

Keeps us on our toes.

Yup. (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/79605/)

[Quinno]

Seeing as I added Surrey Hills a few days ago (and that really is just a few benches outside the brewery shed!) I say yes, mainly because these places are often hidden but also serve up some of the finest quality cask!

[Pangolin]

Quite agree. I have no problems with taprooms which, after all, are set up specifically for the purpose of serving drinks to the public.

[RealAleRobUK]

A yes from me also.

I think most of us visiting brewery taps will expect their hours to be limited and will undertake research into opening times prior to visiting.

The arguments already made in favour echo my thoughts - these places are pretty much guaranteed a decent pint fresh from the source so would be madness to overlook them.

Regular pubs sometimes have weird or irregular hours too.

The only limitation I would perhaps suggest is that they actually have to be open on a regular basis (even if this is seasonal) and not just open for random ad-hoc events.

[arthurchappell]

I find myself wishing the Tap Rooms would admit to being 'pubs', rather than trying to be something different, much as cafe bars do. With pub closures, it would be healthy to see tap-rooms and tap bars adding pub signage and recognizing that they are basically real ale bars. They are trying to avoid the real ale stereotype of appealing to beardie weirdies though just in serving real ale they attract this beardie weirdie. Taps were traditionally 'Brewery Taps', pubs set close to breweries and used as showcase bars for the brewers to show their wares off to potential investors, share holders and business partners, showing customers having a great night out on their produce. Now virtually any neo-bar calls itself a tap room for having beer on tap. I do dislike the limited opening hours. I have also found them requesting their few customers, myself included, being asked to drink up and leave as they arbitrarily decide to close early on a night with disappointingly few customers, effectively punishing the ones who do go in and then wondering why many don't go back again.

[Pangolin]

A slight disagreement, although the term tap or tap room has changed over the years. Originally it was just the room within a pub or tavern where beer was served and it became an alternative term for 'public bar' in some areas. Most pubs with Tap in their names were set up by adjacent hotels as separate premises to serve beer, typically where the terms of the main licence covered residents only, or they just wanted to keep the riff-raff out! These are pretty well extinct as a type although some of the premises survive in their own right, and may well have outlived the hotel. As Arthur says, the term 'brewery tap' was more traditionally applied to the closest pub to the brewery rather than a bar within it, and I would think that breweries would have had to apply for a pub licence to retail beer anyway. Most, of course, had private sampling rooms.

The modern use of the term 'tap room' comes from America where it has specific legal meaning, but it became increasingly used over here by small breweries, especially by the craft brigade. On which mention, it is worth noting that far from all of the new brewery 'tap rooms' serve real ale. More recently you can find the name 'tap' applied to bars almost anywhere and it is rapidly becoming meaningless.